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These are really cool, especially the technomancer! Although something that's bugging me is the level 18 technomancer feat, Sudo Spell.
Sudo is short for "substitute user do"; it's a command you use to run other commands at a different privilege level (typically root). It has nothing to do with precision or duplication.
It kinda reminds me of those crime dramas with the terrible/hilarious hacking scenes, but it's also pretty confusing when there are existing class features and feats that have to do with root access. I spent more time than I'd like to admit trying to figure out the relation between this feat and 10th level spells :P
I feel the same way.
I don't mind references to real world stuff like a lot of people seem to; in fact, I'm all for it, especially humourous and tongue-in-cheek ones! When it's done well, it's great. But this really only works if the references make sense, otherwise it feels awkward and shoehorned. It feels especially weird compared to the programming languages, which do sound like they were written by someone familiar with coding. Things that are well-named, like Safemode Spell or Denial of Safety, make the other, more tenuous names, more glaring.If I can make some suggestions, that I don't think go too far off into the weeds (no more so than, say, quine relay, anyways):
Speedrun (feat p 31; spell p 33) isn't actually about speed; it's about phasing through walls. This could more accurately be called Noclip, or you could recycle 1e's Glitch Step.
Sudo Spell (p 31) is about a spell effect repeating the next round; this could more accurately be called Echo Spell, or for more techie jargon, Loop Spell, FOR Loop Spell, DO Loop Spell, or BREAKIF1=0 Spell.
Debug Spell (p 30) isn't too bad, but debugging is more about removing errors, than tweaking code. This could more accurately be called Refactor Spell, Reformat Spell, Retool Spell, Recompile Spell, or something along those lines. Or heck, even just Optimise Spell. Which frees up Debug for something else more appropriate.
God Mode (p 31) isn't bad, but, I think God Mode could be better used. Since it's about adding more spellshapes, you could call it Memory Boost, or even Spell API Call or something with an "Adding Additional and/or External Resources" vibe. Or, to get real Starfinder-y, since it lets you add up to three spellshapes at once, it's a great use-case for a Triune reference. Triune's Glitch, Triune's Favour, Tripartite Spell, and so on.
Root Access (p 31) also isn't too bad, but as Dire Mosasaur points out, it's not not a bit of a stretch. This would be better place to use God Mode, if we freed it from above.
Then again, my railing against the use of "quantum" doesn't seem to have done much, so. I won't hold my breath observe my qubits.
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Instead of God Mode, arcane refactor makes sense, since refactoring is about making code more reusable and easier to modify.
Sudo spell definitely needs a name change. I like recursive spell myself, since that is also a way to iterate a section of code, and recursion has always seemed really trippy to me.
I think debug spell is OK, and that it's fun to consider that low damage dice are the result of magical code defects.
God mode is also OK with me, though I like the references to Triune that you suggest.
I agree that speed run could use a name change. I like glitch step better than anything I have thought of so far (goto just doesn't sound as cool, for example).
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I like all your suggestions Kishmo. I feel like way too many of the feats here were named without a thought beyond "lol gamer/programmer reference", without any deeper consideration for what those terms mean. Unfortunately, I'm also one of those that just don't enjoy how reference-laden the whole class is. A little cheeky nod to real life is fun, but this is just a barrage.
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Speedrunning frequently involves clipping through walls, though those are usually referred to as named "skips" rather than by the general umbrella term. Speedrun Skip would probably cover the intent just fine!
Speedrunning frequently involves clipping through walls, though those are usually referred to as named "skips" rather than by the general umbrella term. Speedrun Skip would probably cover the intent just fine!
That or "Speedrun Strats" which is a much more peppy phrasing that still references the... What's that? The April Fools blog post? Aw dangit
Sudo Spell (p 31) is about a spell effect repeating the next round; this could more accurately be called Echo Spell, or for more techie jargon, Loop Spell, FOR Loop Spell, DO Loop Spell, or BREAKIF1=0 Spell.
I really like Echo Spell! It works from a computer perspective (the echo command repeats whatever you put into it) and also gives a good idea of what it does even if you're not familiar with the computer terminology.
Root Access (p 31) also isn't too bad, but as Dire Mosasaur points out, it's not not a bit of a stretch. This would be better place to use God Mode, if we freed it from above.
I think Root Access is probably fine. If you think of 10th level spells as being able to alter the fabric of reality in ways that lower level spells can't, then it makes sense. The reason I got confused is because 'sudo' is typically used to run a command as root, so I was looking for a connection between Sudo Spell and Root Access that didn't exist. I probably could have phrased it better in my initial post, sorry.
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Technomancer Real-World References That Don't Quite fit in the layout of a Starfinder book...
//DELETE ROOT ACCESS
integer actions = 1;
integer feat = 4;
Key SPELLSHAPE;
Key TECHNOMANCER;
if (You have delete in your spell database.) {
....if (your next action is to cast delete,)
....{ replace its target with “one construct or tech creature.” Instead of delete’s normal effects, the target becomes controlled by you
........if (its level is equal to or lower than your level – 3.)
........{ It can attempt a Will saving throw to resist being controlled by you. }
........if (the target is already under someone else’s command,)
........{ the controlling creature also rolls a saving throw, and the construct uses the better result.
............if (Your gear is overclocked) {
................if (you use Jailbreak Spell to use this spellshape,) {
....................if (the construct or tech creature succeeds at its save but < critically succeed,)
....................{ it is your minion for 1 round. }
....................if (the construct fails its save,)
....................{ it is your minion for 10 minutes.
....................else if (it critically fails,)
....................{ it is your minion for 24 hours }}}
............else () {
................if (Critical Success)
................{ The target is unaffected and is temporarily immune for 24 hours. }
................if (Success)
................{ The target is unaffected. }
................if (Failure)
................{ The construct or tech creature becomes a minion under your control. The spell gains a duration of 1 minute,
but it is dismissed if you or an ally attacks the construct or tech minion. }
................else if (Critical Failure)
................{ As failure, but the duration is 1 hour }}}}}
else ()
{ you can not use DELETE ROOT ACCESS
}